M'diq, Morocco - A paratrooper of Moroccan origin who was killed by an Islamist gunman in southwest France on March 11 was buried Sunday in his northern hometown with thousands attending the ceremony.

The burial in M'diq town for Imad Ibn Ziaten, who had been stationed as a paratrooper in Toulouse, was attended among others by Marc Laffineur, France's minister for military veteran affairs and several French military officers.

"France will spare no effort in the fight against terrorism. Imad was an exemplary officer", he said after the burial.

Ziaten was gunned down by Mohamed Merah, who also killed six other people in a series of attacks, claiming to be an Al-Qaeda member killing to avenge Palestinian children and punish France for sending troops to Afghanistan.

Merah's also killed two other soldiers of north African origin, three Jewish schoolchildren and a trainee rabbi.